One of the best values for Virgin Atlantic’s 30% Transfer Bonus can make 77,000 points worth more than $3,800 but it’s not what you might think.
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Virgin Atlantic Transfer Bonus
Virgin Atlantic partners with a number of credit card companies to transfer points one-to-one including:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi Thank You Points
- Marriott Bonvoy; and
- Capital One Venture Points
Until March 18th, 2023 there’s a 30% bonus when transfering from Citi Thank You Points to Virgin Atlantic. By linking your Virgin Atlantic account with a created Virgin Red account, you can move points into Red which offers some of the best deals.
If you don’t have Citi Thank You points, don’t worry; the brand frequently offers transfer bonuses from other programs. Around New Year’s Virgin offered the same 30% bonus when moving points from American Express Membership Rewards.
If you were to find a 100,000 Virgin Red award redemption, it would take 77,000 Citi points transferred to receive 100,100 into your Virgin Atlantic account. From there you would move the points over between your linked accounts.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is the new adults-only cruise line from the Virgin brand operating in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. The cabins and service promise everything the Virgin brands represent: a high standard, irreverence, and creativity. This isn’t the average mega-ship with kids peeing in the pool and there’s no buffet. Virgin promises high-caliber cocktails, custom crafted coffees, and every meal is a plated dinner in a restaurant.
There are two redemptions available via Virgin Red points for Virgin Voyages, a five-night cruise for 80,000 points or an eight-night cruise for 100,000 points.
What makes Virgin so unique is that pricing is offered per cabin, not per guest, and includes all taxes, fees, and gratuities in the price.
An eight-night Caribbean cruise I found sells for $3,884 per cabin. Using the transfer bonus from Citi, the required 77,000 points are worth more than 5¢/each – a tremendous value. Even an experienced miles and points booker like Matthew would struggle to achieve that kind of value consistently from such a small number of points. The Sea Terrace room isn’t the base level interior room, but rather includes:
- Private balcony with hammock
- Roomy rainshower
- Mood lighting
- Transformative seabed
I have no idea what the difference is between a seabed and a transformative seabed but without further information, I am sure I’d prefer the transformative option.
One Of The Best Values
For those that have hundreds of thousands of points, they may want to consider something truly difficult to achieve and an even better value. Richard Branson’s Necker Island is offered through Virgin’s Limited Edition. Four nights in his secluded British Virgin Islands getaway will set guests back $23,004 for a Great House Room or 540,000 Virgin Red points.
After the transfer bonus, an empty account would need 416,000 points transferred. Such a redemption would deliver a value of 5.5¢/point, an excellent value. More importantly, Necker Island is generally out of reach for most travelers, this brings it within reach.
Conclusion
Virgin Atlantic transfers haven’t always delivered great value for those using them for flights due to excessive taxes and fees that accompany premium classes of service. However, Virgin Voyages is a consistent, premium product offered for very few points during transfer bonus windows. The best part is that these cabins are sold for two people rather than per person. While this post is not a credit card pitch, if you’re thinking of adding a card that partners with Virgin, we’d appreciate you supporting Live And Let’s Fly here.
What do you think? Would you redeem 77,000 Citi points for a $3800, eight-night cruise?
Don’t see any on their website. Do you have a link?
https://www.virgin.com/virgin-red – https://upgradedpoints.com/news/capital-one-transfer-bonus/
the Necker offer is 540,000 points + $5,400
Virgin cruises is offering a status match on virgin with other cruise lines through March 2023 ( you get extra benefits on the virgin cruise through the match) but don’t know what they will offer after that
I only saw an offer for 8 nights in the Caribbean from Miami or 7 nights in the Mediterranean for 100,000 points.
Where would I find the one for 5 nights?
@Sue – On the top row there are three redemptions, the first for 100k is the one you mentioned, the third on the same row is 5-nights in the Caribbean for 80,000 points. https://www.virgin.com/en-us/virgin-red/spend-virgin-points
Interesting find if I were interested in a cruise
@Greg – Yes or Necker Island.
Is the cruise deal for 100k dead, I don’t see any cruises https://www.virgin.com/en-us/virgin-red/spend-virgin-points